On The Ball

Creative spark missing at Theatre of Dreams

Donny van de Beek (left) and Paul Pogba brought invention and incision against Sheffield United, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer often pairs Nemanja Matic or Scott McTominay with Fred.
Donny van de Beek (left) and Paul Pogba brought invention and incision against Sheffield United, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer often pairs Nemanja Matic or Scott McTominay with Fred. PHOTO: REUTERS
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The three-month anniversary fell yesterday. On Sept 19, Donny van de Beek marked his Manchester United debut with a calm finish against Crystal Palace. That remains it, the sum total of United's home league goals in open play.

In three months since, Bruno Fernandes has converted a couple of penalties but a club who were long a byword for attacking, entertaining football have not found the net in any other way against English opposition at Old Trafford.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on December 20, 2020, with the headline Creative spark missing at Theatre of Dreams. Subscribe